Big night of firsts for Orioles rookie Xavier Avery

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

Tonight has been a night of firsts for Orioles rookie outfielder Xavier Avery.

The 22-year-old Avery, making his second big-league start since being called up Sunday, tallied his first major-league hit in his first at bat Monday against the Yankees, then drove in his first big-league run in the fifth.

Both hits were critical parts of Orioles' rallies. Avery's double into the right-center field gap started a two-run first-inning rally for the Orioles.

Avery's hit was the first of three Orioles hits in the first. J.J. Hardy's single up the middle plated Avery and Adam Jones' line-drive double to left-center scored Hardy to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead.

With Robert Andino on first with no outs in the fifth, Avery laced a triple into the right-field corner, driving in Andino for his first major-league RBI and tying the game at 3

One batter later, Avery strolled home on J.J. Hardy's two-run homer to left, giving the Orioles a 5-3 lead.